DETERIORATED LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1926, Page 10

DETERIORATED LAND.

RESTORING PROSPERITY. EXPERIMENTS TO TEST FARMS. SKILLED MEN IN CONTROL. An important indication as to the Government’s policy in regard to experimentation in the restoration of deteriorated lands was contained in a letter from the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, received by the Te Kuiti Borough Council on Tuesday. The letter was in reply to one from the council embodying resolutions from tlio Chamber of Commerce and the A. and P. Association indicating the manner in which experiments should be carried out on deteriorated lands with a view to achieving the best results.

“The proposals, which are much appreciated, have been carefully considered by the Minister of Agriculture and myself in conjunction with the heads of our respective departments,” wrote the Minister, “and it has been decided to, endeavour to get one or two experienced farmers in the Taranaki and the Auckland land, districts each to take over a partly-deteriorated farm without rent or at a nominal rental. Upon the men being forthcoming, advances for fertilisers, fencing material, etc., will be made as required to er.able the lands to be brought back into profitable occupations. An endeavour will also be made to establish model farms in the localities affected.

“Should success result it is proposed to offer these men the right to purchase or lease these farms at a fair price that would warrant their remaining in possession. It is hoped that the arrangements outlined will demonstrate the possibilities of bringing back diter iorated lands into profitable occupation ”